Thousands answer The Call

"THERE is nothing I have done that has made God love me more and there is nothing I can do to make him love me more" 16,000 people chanted in unison.

"There is nothing you have done", they said to their neighbour, "that has made God love you more and there is nothing you can do to make him love you more."

This was The Call, one of the biggest

celebrations of Christianity ever to be held in England.

Thousands from across Britain and Europe made the pilgrimage to the Royals' playground to pray and change a nation they say has forgotten God.

To many, The Call represents a reawakening of the power of God as Christians from all denominations joined to celebrate Jesus's life with nine hours of fast and prayer.

Worship leaders on stage, like MCs at a rave, told the followers to "clap for God" and the masses responded.

In an instant, applause and cries that would rival the noise from any Jamie Cureton winner burst out and continued for nearly a minute.

This is modern day preaching, an attempt to reach the youth, to stop them falling into the trap of drink and drugs, gangs and prostitution, a way to change our nation.

Behind it all, gentle, transcendental music could be heard as the sun beat down people were feeling the touch of God.

Ed Harrap, an 18-year-old youth worker from a London church, said: "It's been very good, very powerful. I believe today represents a big change for England, maybe not today but soon.

"I think we will see a change in the Government, the potential to change many young people, to change their lifestyles and not to do drink and drugs."

Samuel Teklu, from High Wycombe, added: "I see the need to pray for this nation, I need to pray for the young."

The event cost £600,000 to stage and

promote, with followers paying £10 each to

support the fast and only dining on free bottled water.

Backstage, organisers rejoiced knowing potentially millions were watching the event at home as satellite channel God TV beamed The Call to more than 50 different countries.

Executive producer and former Reading Blue Coat student Jamie Anderson said: "The idea is about having a lifestyle of fast and prayer. What we are after is the Jesus the Bible speaks of not the person the church has made him to be."

The 27-year-old added: "We cannot get away from the fact that Reading is key. It's a cool place.

At the same time 22,000 young people that come into this town every weekend can get hold of drugs, there's teenage pregnancies and violence on the streets and in the clubs.

"The Call intends to shift something in Reading and possibly the nation. If one person can change, then one family can change and if one family can change then the town can and with it the nation."